[cancer|personal] The fundraisers

In the past three days, almost $50,000 has been raised in my name in two separate fundraisers. Both have made goal, both are still ongoing with stretch goals and level bonuses.

The first is The Lakeside Kickstarter to support continued filming of the ongoing documentary project. Waterloo Productions has been very generous with its time and resources, but the twists in my healthcare journey have thrown kinks into their budget. I really want to thank everyone who contributed to keeping that project afloat, because I think this is an important atory to tell.

The second is the Sequence a Science Fiction Writer Acts of Whimsy fundraiser, which made its initial goal in five hours and as I write this is closing in on its second stretch goal. There’s some pretty hilarious level bonuses in this campaign. Th Acts of Whimsy fundraiser is intended to pay for genome sequencing of my tumors, an expensive procedure not yet part of the standard of care nor covered by health insurance. We’re running out of treatments for me, and such a test may provide new insights into treatment direction. (This is explained in detail at the fund raising site.) Again, I cannot possibly thank everyone who participated and continues to participate.

That such a process in the middle of this very hard week could take place has amazed me. Boggled me. I had no idea there was this much support out there. So many people have given, almost 800 as I write this, some of them so obviously at a stretch it makes my heart ache. People I know for a fact are out of work and looking for jobs, people I know for a fact are living on limited budgets, as well as friends, fans and strangers from all walks of life and economic circumstances, each as generous as they can be, some generous beyond reason.

Likewise the Internet support, from blogs and Web sites and tweets, all the way from individual writing blogs to Boing Boing, Whatever and supportive tweets from the Bloggess. That signal boost has been amazing.

Jay, I bravely watched your video even though I knew I would cry during the whole thing. This whole fundraising has been so wonderful to watch, knowing the many people who care and cheer you on puts such a big smile on my face, too. I wanted to say that your sharing so openly your cancer war has helped me keep up the good fight with mine. Now, to the battle and to the win. Love you, Jay.